As part of our Road to the Race series, each week Townsquare Media will bring you the stories of men, women, children and families that have been affected by breast cancer; a devastating disease that strikes the lives of 1 in 8 women every day in the United States. This week we introduce you to cousins Kristy Hironimus and Amy Foster who took a stand against breast cancer.

Cancer was no stranger to cousins Kristy Hironimus and Amy Foster. The girls had lost a mother (Kristy) and an aunt (Amy) between them to the disease. Each day as they sat at lunch from their jobs at Old National Bank, the subject of cancer found its way into the conversation. They were never far from the subject for very long. Breast cancer was always on their minds in one way or another.

Through their lunchtime conversations, and a deep friendship, they discovered that between their shared past there were 4 sisters, 3 of whom had died of breast cancer.

And then there was Kristy’s mother and Amy’s great Aunt that died from breast cancer. The odds, they felt, were stacking against them.

Kristy: “We’d go to get a mammogram and think, ‘where is it? Where’s the cancer?’ You’re scared to death.”

Amy: “It’s awful to know, to think, you’re just a ticking time bomb”.

So the girls took matters into their own hands. They headed to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee and had themselves tested for the breast cancer gene. Even though the tests came out negative, they felt they had to protect themselves. So they decided on double mastectomies.

Kristy: “There’s a peace of mind now. Our families were very supportive. My father especially. My daughter, who is 13, asked me the other day if I thought she’d have to do the same thing when she got older. I told her I don’t know. My hope is that by then, they’ve developed a vaccine against breast cancer. God, I hope so.”

Kristy and Amy continue the fight against breast cancer every day and are part of the t-shirt committee for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure – Race for the Cure (I begged for 3x shirts!) We’ll have to wait until September 20, to find out what they come up with!

HOW TO REGISTER

Register online to start a team, join a team, or register as an individual.

Registration types include: Race Participant, Extra”CURE”ricular, Snooze for the Cure, At Work for the Cure, Proud in the Crowd, 12 & Under and Komen VIP.

Register by mail by mailing your completed Race entry form (Available soon!) along with payment to the Evansville Tri-State Affiliate at 4424 Vogel Road, Suite 205, Evansville, IN, 47715. All entries must be postmarked by September 12. After September 12, please bring your entry form the Affiliate office. One registration form per person, please.

Register in-person prior to the Race at the Evansville Tri-State Affiliate office.

German American Bank (2nd floor)

4424 Vogel Road, Suite 205

Evansville, IN 47715

You can also register on Race day and two days prior to the Race (September 20 and 21) at Old National Bank in Downtown Evansville. Additional registration fees will apply. Those who register at Late Registration will get their t-shirt and Race bib at the time of registration.

T-shirt Pickup: T-shirts will be available for pickup for those not on teams starting September 20 at Old National Bank in Downtown Evansville. Late Registration/T-shirt pickup will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on September 20 and 21 and starting at 6:30 a.m. on Race day. If you register on a team, your team captain will pickup your t-shirt starting on September 14 (churches only) through September 18.